We can vaccinate 50 million people in a matter of weeks, but we still can't get a bus or train, to travel on time. I was late for the game, by 15 minutes, and as a result, we didn't have a chance to setup our usual filming rig, so no 7Edit this week.
It was a struggle, to rush to a game and then jump straight into it, and pitch was pitiful, more on that later. We had a low turn-out this week, no disaster, but we should keep an eye out on this, however, we can't afford for players to be having too much of a break because it means we have to go to all that effort to bring people back again.
The game itself was really good. Because their were few of us, it gave us a really good insight into how others play. Our team wasn't as technical gifted as our opponents, but we got the basics right. We passed to people in space, we made moves, and the rest just glided into place. In the end, our team bossed it and came out resounding winners.
All the players with the exception of myself, Jumbo and Mo were several notches up the fitness ladder and it goes to show how much it counts for.
Basics, like passing, shooting, are incredible "powers" to control, it's just something that comes with time. Get shooting right, and you score more. While you improve on that, get the passing right and you're upping your chances on goal, so by simple statistical numbers, you score more too.
Like I said in the last match report, then it comes to defending......there's no Messi-esque requirements to stand reasonably close to an attacker. There's no Einstein needed to tracking back as a unit.
But in order for that to happen, you have to be physically able to do so. So fitness again.
For me, anyways, I truly feel there was a lot to learn from this game. The easy thing to do is bask in the afterglow, but wins need dissecting as well as defeats.
One thing that I have to make a point of here, is the standard of Powerleague - Shoreditch pitches. Powerleague 5-a-side pitches are very small, which isn't for everyone. The games can be intense, which is great for fitness, but it's a matter of personal opinion regarding the pitch size. But 1 thing we can all agree on, is the quality of the pitches. Powerleague say their pitches are 4G. Given this has no official meaning, I find it hard that they brag about it.
It's also clear that all their pitches aren't to the same level. As you enter Powerleague Shoreditch, on the left, they have a couple of pitches which are really nice and good quality. To the right there are a lot more 5-a-side pitches and I can't vouch for the rest, but the turf we played on were rubbish. They were borderline 2G, and I think wearing FG boots are a no-no, it was like walking on concrete. I'd be surprised if AG boots even cut the mustard, so bring a pair of TF trainers if you want to get the most out of these pitches.
We've got approval from a few people about the "2G". To be honest, it didn't matter. There's no pressure here, if you want to play a 2nd game, as long as you fulfil the pre-requisites of playing the previous Thursday game, then you're more than welcome. Understand too, that the game will be far more intense and people will be more critical of each other than our more friendly kick-around on Thursdays.
Our first "2nd Game" won't be marketed as such though. We have the small matter of our 1st Anniversary coming up. Yep, 1 year on. We've had a global pandemic to contend with, but we made it through. We always wanted FC7 to be more than a club. What we have achieved in the last year proves that. But we can't force people to sign up to our whole ethos, they need to want it too. For some, doing nothing at home is enough. Not for us. We are more.
We've got a few plans for the Anniversary. We're planning a marquee game at Archbishop's Park, in the shadow of the London Eye. Central London, said by many, to be the best quality 3G in London. So what better way to celebrate on a footballing level.
We're also planning a big drinks night, to celebrate the year in terms of FC7 and also mark the end of a year long lockdown Plus there is the small matter of the FC7 Anniversary shirt, coming soon. It's a small surprise for the players, an something for us to look smart in on big match days while enabling us to get rough with our current kits. There's a little more meaning with this kit, so hopefully it will bring a smile to our players faces.
Stay tuned!
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